The monster-sized garbage truck was headed straight for the horse I was riding down busy Columbus Avenue, at the height of evening rush hour on New York City’s Upper West Side. Gears grinding loudly, the vehicle kept chugging toward us as I maneuvered my horse as close as possible to the parked cars along the curb in an attempt to avoid a truck-horse-human collision.
The perpetually rearing wooden horse still stares out the enormous picture window oblivious to the constant bustle of New York City, just as he’s done since 1912. All around him, the world has changed. The once plentiful shops offering equestrian accouterments to clients with names like Rockefeller and Kennedy have disappeared, leaving Manhattan Saddlery as the sole surviving tack shop in the borough.
It was 8:45 p.m. on a Thursday evening. It was dark, wet and cold outside. I had 24 hours until the chili cook-off fundraiser I’d been planning for the Area II Young Riders, and the anxiety was setting in, as it always does before any function I plan.
I was doing my best to balance my time between my full-time job at Sinead Halpin Eventing, my part-time job at Prestige Saddles, my commitment to Young Riders, my part-time job teaching at River Edge Farm, and my personal commitment to fitness.
Harry G. Huberth, a passionate foxhunter and U.S. Equestrian Federation R-rated judge, died on March 22, in Pinehurst, N.C., after a brief illness. He was 88.
Mr. Huberth enlisted in the Cavalry in Fort Riley, Kan., and later served as a captain in the infantry. He was a highly decorated World War II veteran, earning the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts and the Croix de Guerre as the commanding Officer of B Company 141st Infantry Regiment.
Sarah “Sally” Rodman Swift, the author and creator of Centered Riding, died on April 2. She was 95.
Ms. Swift was born on April 20, 1913, in Hingham, Mass. At the age of 7 she was diagnosed with scoliosis or lateral curvature of the spine. Her first physical therapist was Mabel Elsworth Todd, author of The Thinking Body, who helped her into her 20s. Todd encouraged Swift in her riding, which she’d started as a small child.
Loxus, a talented hunter, jumper and eventer who carried the Bearak family for many decades, died on Feb. 19. He was 30.
Loxus, an Oldenburg gelding, was well known in the show ring and competed at the Pennsylvania National and the Washington (D.C.) International Horse Shows and was the North Carolina Hunter Jumper Association children’s/adult jumper champion when he and his rider, Mark Bearak, were both 19.
A few years later, he was the North Carolina Dressage and Combined Training Association champion in novice eventing with Mark’s mother, Arleene.
Ronald “Ronnie” Sakell, a professional horseman and beloved instructor, died on Jan. 24. He was 73.
Mr. Sakell was born in Washington, D.C., and was a self-employed horseman who instructed students, trained and sold horses. He was a member of the Orange County Hunt (Va.), the Charles Town Benevolent Protective Association (W.Va.), and the Washington Bridle Trails Association and was a fixture on the Northern Virginia horse show circuit.
Greystone McErrill, a producer of world-class sport horses, was euthanized on Jan. 29 at Triple Creek Farm in West Winfield, N.Y. He was 31.
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